Automatic speed control



E. J. CRAWFORD.

AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.2e. 1919. I 1,398,539. Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

e 1: Q Q 6 30/% I Y UNITED" STATES PATENT; oer-ice.

EDGAR :r. or sEur'rLE; wasnme rox, mason. no :r. EUGENE JORDAN,

. E am-mm, wasmamom' Annemarie stem: cannon a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident gas engine may be run, I

of Seattle, Washington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Speed Controls, of which thefollowing iis aspecification. y inventionrelates to automatic speed control,particularly designed for use upon automobiles. The control,-however, isapplicable to all types of gas engines.

The object ofmy invention is to provide a speed control which may be setat certain pro-determined maximum speed and which will shutoff theengine automatically when it exceeds these speeds. Another object of .myinvention is to provide means for indicating maximum speeds for whichthe control is set, in connection with the regulating means.

My invention comprises the novel parts and combinations of parts whichare herein described in the specification, defined by the claimterminating the same, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention in the formwhich is now preferred by me: V

Figure 1 is a section through the dash and hood of an automobile,illustrating my device mounted thereon, in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a detail in sectionof a pair of contact members which I emploFig. 3 is an elevation of the indicating dey vice, parts being brokenaway.

In order to control the speed at which a employ a governor, which is somounted that it will cut of? the electric current which includesthe'sparking system of the engine when the speed of the engine reaches acertain predetermined maximum. Such a device may be so regulated thatthe device may be set for certain maximum speeds, any one of which maybe cut in or employed. Adjustments may also be made to set the devicefor any speed between two of the set maximum speeds.

The flexible shaft 1 which connects the speed I indicator 10 with thewhee (not shown), has a bevel fpinion 11 mounted upon a rigid portion 12o the shaft. Preferably, this is mounted just inside the hood 2 of thecar upon a frame 23 carried 1) the daslf 20, and forms the last link 0the flexible shaft 1.

Specification of Letters Intent Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

Application filed August 26,1918. Serial'lo. 319,921.

A beveled pinion 31 meshes with the pinion 11 and rotates the governorshaft 32.

- ance of a spring 36. Any other suitable form of ployed.

I A flexible arm l4- mounted in any suitable governor, however, may beem- .way upon the frame 23 carries a plurality of contact points 40 and41. The contact point or'bar 42 is carried upon the frame 23, and isinsulated therefrom. The flexible arm 4 is mounted in such a position asto be movable bythe sleeve 34, acting under the influence of thegovernor 3.

The contact points 40 and 41 are connect ed to a selective switch 5mounted upon the dash. switch consists of an arm 50 secured upon a shaft51 and movable by any suitable means from the drivers seat, as by thearm 52.- The arm 50 forms one terminal of the battery circuit. 'The arm50 contacts with a plurality of contact points 54 mounted upon the dashand each one connected to its respective-contact point 40 and 41 uponthe flexible arm 4' to complete the circuit. The contact point 42 iselectrically connected to the battery 6 through the induction coil 61.

I prefer to mount the contact point 40 rigidly in the flexible arm 4,though adjust-j ments may be made by means of nuts 44.

The contact points 41 of which I have shown only one in thedrawings areof a different type from the point 4O.v These consist of acontactm'ember 41 secured upon the end of a conductor stem 43. The stem43 extends upward through an opening in the insulator 45, which isfixedly secured in the arm 4, and slides in this insulator. A spring 46tends normally to keep the point 41 in contact with the contact bar 42.Lock nuts 47 limit this projection of the point41 beyond a certainpro-determined point. This may be regulated by adjustment of the locknuts 47 upward or downward upon the stem. Though I have shown but onecontact point of this type, it is evident that any number found 7 neceary or desirable may be employed, in this way producing a finerregulation of the speed.

Inoperation this part of the device brealis the electric circuit whichcontrols the spark are in. the engine cylinder whenever the speed of thecar (or in the case of a stationary engine, the en e speed) exceedsthecontrolling speed or which it has been set. If,

for instance, the speed limit within a certain district is twelve milesper hour, the

contact point i0 is set so that the governor between the points i0 and4:2, and the en-- gine fails to spark; thus its speed may not exceedtwelve miles per hour.

' It, in another district, the speed limit is thirty miles per hour, themotorist, in passing from the twelve-mile district to the thirty-miledistrict, throws the switch 5 to the proper point 4-1 into circuit andthe point 40 out. The oint t1 will now be held in contact with t e bar42 by means of the spring 46 until the lock nuts 47 contact with theinsulator 45. This can be set to occur when the car speed reaches thirty.miles per hour. At this speed, then, the engins circuit is broken, andthe speed is reduced. The deviceis capable of very exact adjustment, andoperates perfectly to limit the speed of the car to themaximum for whichit is set.

In order to provide an indicator which will show the maximum speed atwhich the car may travel, I may employ a series of cards 7 having thecontrolling speeds written thereon, and arranged to move upward in a box71 to become visible, and. downwardout of sight. These cards 7 may beconnected to an arm 72, secured upon the shaft 51, by means of links 73. The box 71, I prefer to mount upon the hood of the car, facingforward, to serve as an indicator to traflio officers, pedestrians, andother motorists of the maximum speed at which the car may travel withthe adjustment then made.

While I have described this invention herein in connection with itsapplication to an automobile, it is to be understood that this merelytypifies the use to which it may be put in connection-with any engineusing an electric spark. The flexible shaft 1 is herein described asconnecting the speedindicator with the wheel, but it may be connecteddirect to the engine if desired, and in a stationary engine would be soconnected. The electric circuit which is controlled by this device maybe the primary or secondary circuit of a gas engine whichever may befound more suitable. Generally it would be connected in the primary.

. it is to be understood that this speed control can be adapted to shut0d the gas from neeasee 1. A speed control mechanism for gas enginescomprising, in combination, an electric clrcult adapted to produce a,spark 1n the engine cylinders, a governor connected to the engine to beregulated by the speed thereof, a plurality of parallel circuitmembars,a selective switch adapted to throw any one of said parallel circuitmembers into'the circuit and to exclude the remainder,

an arm engageable by and movable by'the governor, a fixed contactmember, and a plurality of contact members carried by and movable withsaid arm out of contact with the fixed contact member, each of saidmovable contact members being connected with its respective one of saidparallel circuit members, and each being movable out of contact with thefixed contact point at a pretact points. p

2. A speed control mechanism for gas engines comprising, in combination,an electric circuit adapted to produce a spark in the engine cylinders,a governor connected to the engine to be regulated by the speed thereof,a plurality of parallel circuit members, a selective switch adapted tothrow any one of said parallel circuit members into the circuit and toexclude the remainder,

determined engine speed differing from the controlling speed of theother movable con= an arm engageable by and movable by the governor, afixed contact member, and a plurality of contact members carried by andmovable with said arm out of contact with the fixed contact member, I

each of said movable contact members being connected with its respectiveone of said parallel circuit members, and each being movable out ofcontact with the fixed contact point at a predetermined engine speeddifi'ering from the controlling speed of the other movable contactpoints, an inclosingbox, and a movable visible index of the controllingspeed movable into view from the box, and controlled by said selectiveswitch.

3. A speed control mechanism for gas engines comprising, in'combination, an electric current including the sparking means in theengine cylinder, a governor connected to the engine to be regulated bythe speed thereof, a sleeve axially movable upon the governor shaft, aspr ng arm engageable.

by said. sleeve and movable thereby at a predetermined engine speed, afixed contact point, a plurality of contact points fixed in said springarm to move therewith, and normally, contacting with the fixed contactpoint, said movable contact points being reciprocable in the spring armin the direction of the fixed contact point, adjustable stopslimitingthe movement of these points toward the fixed contact point, the movebers into the circuit and to exclude the re mainder. V

4, A speed control mechanism for gas engines comprising, in combination,an electric current including the sparking means in the engine cylinder,a governor connected to the engine to be regulated by the speed thereof,a sleeve axially movable upon the governor shaft, a spring armengageable by said sleeve and movable thereby at a predetermined enginespeed, a fixed contact point, a plurality of contact points fixed insaid spring arm to move therewith, and normally contacting'with thefixed contact point, said movable contact points being reciprocable inthe spring. arm in the direction of the fixed contact point, adjustablestops limiting the movement of the arm breakmg'contact be tween saidmovable points and the fixed point at predetermined speeds, the speedvarying for eachpoint, a pluralit of parallel circuit memberseachconnects toa movable contact point, and a selective switch adapted tothrow any one 'ofsaid parallel circuit members into the circuit and toexclude the remainder, an inclosing box, and a movable visible index ofthe controllin speed movable into view from the box, an controllable bsaid selective switch.

Signed at cattle, Washington, U. S. A., this 20th day of August, 1919.

EDGAR J. CRAWFORD.

